In chemistry, metal is a word for a group of chemical elements that have certain properties. In simple words, Metals are substances with characteristics such as malleability, ductility, conductivity, brilliance, – and solidity.
Furthermore, Metals are unique materials found in rock. These metal-filled rocks are called ores, and they’re mined out to be utilized for a variety of items. Metals have unique properties, including being malleable, which allows them to be readily molded into new forms, and being opaque.
Table of Contents
What are Metals?
Metals are natural components of the earth’s crust that exist in the form of metal ores and are interconnected with many other elements. Metals are malleable and ductile elements that conduct heat and electricity. Iron (Fe), Aluminum (Al), Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu), Gold (Au), Platinum (Pt), Lead (Pb), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Zinc and Magnesium (Mg) are a few examples.
Many metals we use today are alloys. Alloys are made by combining two or more metals.
Properties of Metals
A metal is a material distinguished by its strength, capacity to carry heat and electricity, and a variety of other physical and chemical qualities. Metals can be polished, pulled into wires (ductile), hammered into sheets (malleable), and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Metals such as gold, silver, and aluminum are examples. Some main properties of metals are listed below:
- Good conductors of electricity.
- Good conductors of heat.
- High density.
- Malleable (means that they can be easily bent or shaped).
- Ductile (can be made into wires).
- Lustrous (they shine).
Uses of Metals
- Metals are essential to modern technology due to their strength and conductivity, as well as their capacity to be reshaped into numerous shapes
- Silicon and germanium are two metalloids that are economically valuable. Silicon is a key component of computer chips and semiconductor devices.
- Iron plays an important role in the construction of hemoglobin, the blood component that transports oxygen from the lungs.
Interesting Facts
- Although the majority of metals are hard, some, such as sodium and potassium, are soft enough to be sliced with a knife.
- Most metals have a high melting point, but gallium has such a low melting point (85.6 °F, or 29.8 °C) that it melts in the palm of your hand.
- Several metals are radioactive, including uranium, thorium, and radium.
Daily Life Examples of Metals
Here are some daily life examples of metals:
- Jewelry: Metals like gold, silver, and platinum are commonly used in jewelry due to their luster and resistance to corrosion.
- Coins: Many coins are made of metal, such as copper, nickel, and zinc.
- Cookware: Pots and pans are often made of metals like stainless steel, aluminum, and copper due to their excellent heat conductivity.
- Vehicles: Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are made of metals such as steel, aluminum, and titanium due to their strength and durability.
- Electronics: Many electronic devices contain metals such as copper, gold, and silver in their circuitry.
- Construction: Buildings and infrastructure often rely on metals like steel, iron, and aluminum for their structural integrity.
- Medical equipment: Medical devices such as surgical instruments and implants often contain metals like titanium and stainless steel due to their biocompatibility and strength.
- Sports equipment: Many sports equipment such as baseball bats, golf clubs, and tennis rackets are made of metals like aluminum or steel due to their strength and durability.
What are Ores?
Metals commonly form chemical compounds with oxygen, known as oxides, or with sulfur, known as sulfides, or they make physical compounds with rock and other compounds. These compounds, known as ores, are mined, and the metals contained within them are separated and processed into industrially useable forms. Metal separation and processing are referred to as metallurgy.
Malleability in Metals
Malleability refers to a substance’s ability to deform under pressure. The material can be hammered or rolled into thin sheets if it is malleable. Metals’ malleability is their ability to distort and take on new shapes when compressed. The capacity of the atoms to roll over one other into new locations without breaking the metallic link makes metals flexible. Both gold and silver are very malleable metals. Nickel, on the other hand, is the metal with the least malleability.
Concept of Stress and Strain
Stress is a measurement of the magnitude of the forces that cause deformation. In general, stress is defined as force per unit area. Tensile tension occurs when forces pull on an object and cause it to extend, for as when an elastic band is stretched. Compressive stress occurs when forces cause an object to compress. Bulk stress occurs when an object is squeezed from all sides, such as a submarine in the ocean’s depths (or volume stress). Shear tension occurs when two materials brush against or glide over one other.
An object or material deforms when it is strained. The quantity that characterizes this deformation is strain. When under tensile stress, strain is indicated as a fractional change in length, volume (when under bulk load), or shape (under shear stress).
A strain is a one-dimensional number. Tensile strain results from tensile stress, bulk strain (or volume strain) result from shear stress, and shear strain results from shear stress.
Properties of Metals
| No. | Property | Definition | Example |
| 1. | Conductivity | Ability to conduct heat or electricity | Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and is used in electrical wiring. |
| 2. | Malleability | Ability to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets | Gold is highly malleable and can be easily molded into different shapes. |
| 3. | Ductility | Ability to be drawn into a thin wire | Silver is ductile and can be drawn into thin wires, making it useful in electronics. |
| 4. | Luster | Shiny appearance or reflectivity | Aluminum has a bright, silvery luster and is often used in decorative applications. |
| 5. | Density | Mass per unit volume | Lead is a dense metal that is used in radiation shielding due to its ability to absorb radiation. |
| 6. | Reactivity | Tendency to undergo a chemical reaction | Sodium is a highly reactive metal that reacts violently with water. |
| 7. | Corrosion resistance | Ability to resist chemical degradation, such as rusting | Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and is used in applications where rusting is a concern. |
| 8. | Strength | Ability to withstand stress or force | Steel is a strong metal that is used in construction and manufacturing applications. |
Summary
Metals are minerals that can be found in underground rocks. They are separated from the rocks using heat. Strength, toughness, ductility, malleability, and stiffness are just a few of the useful characteristics they possess.
By heating them, they may be molded into various forms. Furthermore, metals are excellent conductors of heat and electricity, making them ideal for electric and heating applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the properties of zinc metal?
Zinc is a beautiful bluish-white metal with a high melting point. It is brittle and crystalline at ambient temperature, but when heated to between 110°C and 150°C, it becomes ductile and pliable. It’s a moderately reactive metal that releases hydrogen when it reacts with dilute acids and mixes with oxygen and other nonmetals.
2. Is hydrogen a metal?
Hydrogen (H) is not a metal. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, flammable gaseous substance that is the most fundamental member of the chemical element family. The hydrogen atom has a nucleus composed of a proton with one unit of positive electrical charge and an electron with one unit of negative electrical charge.
Check the full article “Is hydrogen a metal?”.
3. How many valence electrons does iron metal have?
The valence electrons in iron are eight. Because iron is a transition metal, it may utilize valence electrons from its d subshells. The valence electrons of a transition metal are electrons that exist outside of a noble-gas core.
4. Is chlorine a metal?
Chlorine is nonmetal as it lacks metal-like properties such as electrical conductivity, flexibility, and strength. Oxygen, carbon, and sulfur are some other nonmetals that are comparable.
5. What are the main characteristics of aluminum metal?
Aluminum is a metal with high conductivity of electricity. Aluminum has the electrical current-carrying capability of two pounds of copper by weight, although having a conductivity of just 60% that of copper by volume. Aluminum is commonly used in satellite dishes.
7. Is Magnesium a metal?
Magnesium (Mg) is a metal element with an atomic weight of 24,312 and an atomic number of 12. It belongs to Group IIa of the Periodic Table. Magnesium is a silvery-white metallic element with a high melting point.
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